Local professional chefs discuss the culinary heritage of Appalachia
BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The Birthplace of Country Music Museum hosted its monthly “Speaker Sessions” on Tuesday, and this month’s free event featured chefs Katlin and Mohsin Kazmi of The Pakalachian and Torrece “Chef T” Gregoire of Union 41.
A release from the museum said Tuesday’s event aimed to expose attendees to a “fusion of diverse culinary traditions with the rich Appalachian food culture, offering attendees a view into the vibrant culinary landscape of the region.”
The session explored the stories behind all of the chefs’ culinary ventures in the region, and how they use local resources to operate their businesses.
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“Chef T and the Kazmi’s offer unique perspectives on creating connections between different food traditions, and their culinary talents showcase the diversity and richness inspired by Appalachian foodways,” said museum Head Curator Dr. Rene Rodgers in the release. “Each of them applies sustainable, farm-to-table practices in their businesses, which is something we should all learn more about.”
News Channel 11 spoke with guest speaker Chef T, and she said this region and its heritage have elevated her cooking and her career.
“This area really has transformed my cooking, my cooking career, just like I tell people, I moved to this area by accident on purpose, and it has connected me to my own personal food story in ways that I could not have even imagined,” she said.
Chef T said she hopes event participants take away a sense of pride in the food from Appalachia.
“I hope they really take away a sense of pride and understand, you know, what this food did and the sustenance that this food provided; and embrace it a little more and go out and support restaurants that are really standing true in their culture and cuisine, but also paying homage to Appalachia.”
The monthly Speaker Sessions at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum are free, and if you can’t see them in person, you can watch them online via WBCM Radio Bristol’s YouTube channel. A schedule of events can be found at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org.
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